ACNE – an unnecessary epidemic.

Seeing an extreme case of acne on the face of a young man today I felt compelled to share this yet again. Hearing he and his friends talk about pro-active and clearasil almost made me sick. Speak to any sufferer about diet and toxic chemicals and you all of a sudden become a weirdo. As a former acne sufferer I know my face would not be acne free or scar free. But it is possible.

So-called anti acne treatments have covered billboards and loaded TV commercials since I can remember. As around 90% of people in the west will get acne (it is rare in purer, less contaminated 3rd world nations – but equally high in those nations that the west has used as a chemical dumping ground) it is big business.

Sadly, most products and information comes from unethical companies that stand to make a billion, so will say and spin truths however it suits them – and sales.

I have heard ‘skin experts’, pharmacy assistants, pharmacists, doctors, dermatologists and even people in the alternative health industry spin such rubbish on acne that it is no wonder that acne remains in epidemic proportions. Drug therapies, topical therapies, laser, cosmetic treatments, etc etc – the list is endless – and few of these work permanently. But most have horrific side effects.

From seriously strong antibiotics (fertility and behavioural problems), steroids (endrocrine and nervous system damage), chemical peels to OTC supposedly safe treatments, myriad long term health issues remain – and with that, a continual stream of steady income. Entire practices based on acne care have emerged. Entire aisles in pharmacies. Pretty photoshopped young things in impressive advertising, with perfect skin (and previously clever make up artistry) – with little to prove but bad burns, clogged pores, facial hair and scarred skin.

The truth is, there IS help available. Sadly, most of it is publicly ridiculed by the medical fraternity because simply put, there is no money to be made – but much to be lost. Watching yet another round of Proactive commercials this morning on TV, I felt compelled to share with people on FB what I shared with my patients in private practice for years – for free.

It’s up to you whether you want to ‘try’ it – you have nothing to lose. Be assured, simply saying ‘it wont work’ is not going to miraculously get rid of those zits – or stop scars. Proactive, along with most on the market, contains a long string of extremely hazardous chemicals in a cocktail that can and does cause permanent damage. I should know – professionally and personally, I have had a long run with acne.

By the age of 18 my acne developed (to the dismay of parents who’d had no experience with acne – ever) – to the point that one day, tired of being called a pizza face, I first approached our local pharmacy. The young girl shared with me everything she had been taught at beauty school or wherever pharmacy assistants go to learn what big pharma companies want them to impart. Then the pharmacist made me up his own brew. From experience, this guy was brilliant and he’d often come to our aid with injured cats, dogs and horses, so I had great trust in him. When hundreds of dollars’ worth of products did little more than inflame it (don’t you just love the common catchphrase “It will flare up before it gets better – that is detoxing..”?) I went to the local GP, then a skin specialist. By then, my skin was as stripped, peeled, burned and detoxed as any skin could survive – I had a permanent red face that was in 24/7 burning pain. I steamed, scrubbed, masked and blasted every spot – causing almost irreparable damage in the process.

My nursing training photos showed me with massive breakouts, deep scarring and generally unhealthy skin. My best friend at the time had just started working for a naturopath, and here I could really say ‘End of Story’ but I wont because people need to know the truth – and have some hope.

Some of you know what happened next. The same naturopath that saved my Dad’s life when he’d been given a short time by doctors, also took one look at me, told me what to eat, what to take, what to use and within 4 weeks my life was changed forever. Of course, everyone who noticed the change, when told what I was doing, would say, “Pfft, witchcraft. It doesn’t work, you know..” Okay. I felt so guilty that my Mum had tried herbal remedies and I too had called them witchcraft… Anyway, out went petrochemicals and dairy, gluten, meat (at the time I still occasionally ate a little – at my GP’s insistence) and the few sugars I was still taking. I increased my water intake and drank only hot water with lemon instead of coffee or tea. And while my skin improved immeasurably, it was still experiencing the damaging effects of decades previously – but a look into a black light box (showing extensive damage) – and changing once and for all to petrochemical free skincare at the age of 37 years, I saw my last pimple – and my skin was as soft and line-free as a teenager’s…

And not one pock mark or red scar remains. Yet at one stage I had Homer Simpson’s beard line – except mine was acne scars.

So while most ‘experts’ still say diet, hormones, product and lifestyle doesn’t affect acne, in essence they are all right and all so wrong. How? Because it is not just one thing.

* Diet does affect our cells – it is that simple. So change your diet. Detox and drink lots of water while avoiding the rubbish that teens seem to love. Your skin renews itself every month or so, it can really take that long, once your body is fed and healed, to get new, perfect skin.

* Hormones do affect our skin – in some shocking ways, internally and externally. From conception, our hormones are affecting our growth and development – in utero and then later as we are exposed to hormone mimics like perfumes, steroids, dairy, meat, chicken, etc, etc. Avoidance and use of a topical cream like hormone balancing cream – goo.gl/Kovjs6 – from puberty will help in most cases.

* Product affects our skin, hair, nails, eyes, ears, teeth and mucous membranes. The ‘shampoo line’ and too frequent shampooing can irritate due to the ingredients being dermal irritants, carcinogenic and damaging enough to affect vital organs and separate cell layers. The shampoo line – wash your hair and see where the shampoo runs during rinsing – from scalp to behind ears and face, back of neck, chest and down the back – yup – exactly where acne trails run. Often, just changing your shampoo and skin care is enough – http://goo.gl/UyEI17 – and http://goo.gl/XjvIwh

~ the trick is to keep your body as hygienically clean as possible while nourishing the skin and hair without irritation or saturation. There is no one answer but a complete lifestyle change – after all, it’s your lifestyle up until now that made your skin what it is!

– * Lifestyle affects everything we do. While some lucky few are able to bombard their bodies every day and still look perfectly healthy and shiny, they are very rare and it is amongst that frustrating group that I have found the most chronic illness. Reducing alcohol, coffee and poor habits such as smoking and too little or too much sun will make a vast difference to not only your skin but health and appearance in general.

The thing to remember is that it took a whole lifetime to push your skin to the point it said “NO MORE!” – what’s a few months and a basic change in lifestyle compared to that? Drinking herbal teas (goo.gl/9yTqgF) and getting your blood alkaline will add to the guarantee of the removal of acne and scarring. If skin on the outside of your body is pushing toxins out of the body, how toxic must the insides be? It’s NOT part of a healthy teen’s life expectations – sadly, that too was invented by companies trying to con the public into buying so many useless products – and allow unethical junk food and sugary drink companies to keep pushing their toxic rubbish. This protocol is safe and effective for all ages.

A pure, herbal and natural skin healing supplement also has many benefits both short and long term – goo.gl/QMth7X.

It’s free to become a member – all products are wholesale once you become a member.

The additional health benefits are very far reaching and you will soon notice it’s not just your skin that improves. Best of all, these products last for months and unlike most of the other acne treatments out there, you don’t need to use them forever. But once you clean up your act, there will be many safe products available to maintain your new skin.